Base-ball mask.



D. G. OSHEA.

BASE BALL MASK.

APPLICATION FILED MAB. s, 191;.

Patented Jan. 30, 1912.

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DENNIS C. OSHEA, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, ASSIGNOR TO G. SPALD'ING & Enos, 0F

JERSEY CITY, NEW JERSEY, A CORPORATION OF NEW JERSEY.

BASE-BALL Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed March 8, 1911.

Patented Jan. 30, 1912. Serial No. 613,012.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, DENNIS C. OSEEA, a citizen of the United States, residing in the city of Chicago, in the State of Illinois, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Base-Ball Masks, of which the following is a specification, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, forming a part hereof.

This invention relates to the construction of masks of stout wire which are commonly used by baseball players for the protection of the face and head.

The object of the invention is to improve the construction of such masks so that they will better protect the face and head of the user, will be more comfortable in use, will be more readily adaptable to difierent users, will be stronger without additional weight and will be so constructed as to fit closer to the face and thereby reduce the considerable leverage with which the ordinary mask acts upon the head of the user by reason of its considerable protuberance in front, while at the same time the face is fully protected.

The invention will be more fully explained hereinafter with reference to the accompanying drawings in which it is illustrated, and in which Figure 1 is a view in front elevation of the wire mask without the padding. Fig. 2 is a view thereof in side elevation.

The improved mask comprises as usual a main or side frame a, side vertical members 6, forward of the main frame, a central vertical member 0, and transverse members d, d, (Z (Z d (i These several members are secured together, by soldered bridges, as at e, e, 6 e and f, f, f and by bending the ends of the members, as at g, or in any suitable manner. These members are formed substantially, as usual, except that neither the central member 0 nor the transverse members d, d, &c., project forwardly from the main frame member a as much as heretofore. This reduced forward projection is permitted by the greater stiffness given to the frame otherwise, as hereinafter described, and has the great advantage of keeping the weight of the mask closer to the head and reducing the leverage through which, as heretofore, the weight of the mask has acted upon the head of the user.

The greater stiflness of the improved mask is largely secured by diagonal reinforcing members h, h and h, h. The diagonal members h, h, are secured at their upper ends to the transverse member d, adjacent to the main frame a, and at their lower ends to the soldered bridge 6, while the diagonal members it, it are secured at their upper ends to the soldered bridge 6 and at their lower ends to the transverse member (is adjacent to the auxiliary vertical members 6.

At each side of the mask, at its lower portion, are provided the lower guards i which extend rearwardly over the ears and the posterior portions of the lower jaw. Each of such guards may be formed conveniently by extending each end of the transverse member (Z beyond the main frame a and carrying it downward and then inward to a point where it is connected to the main frame, as at i. In its upper portion, the mask is also provided with upper guards is which cover and protect the temples of the user; each of such upper or temple guards 70 may be conveniently formed by extending the transverse member 65 and carrying it downward and then inward to a point, as at is, where it is secured to the main frame a. The upper guards in also furnish a convenient point of attachment for the top head wire Z which is secured at its ends to the upper guards Z0 and may be further supported at its center on the transverse member (Z by a vertical member Z. This top head wire protects the top of the head, furnishes a better support for the mask, so that it is not as liable to slip forward, better balances the mask and furnishes a. support for padding so that the top of the head will be so protected that it will not feel greatly the shock of a ball or a bat on the mask. It will be noted, also, that the diagonal members furnish additional protection to the upper and lower portions of the face. The chin wire a, which may be conveniently formed as an integral part of the main frame, is placed closer than usual to the adjacent transverse member, so that there is not the usual large space which leaves the chin unprotected.

The superior advantages of the improved transverse member and at the other end of mask, as compared with the masks comeach to another transverse member at its monly used, will be readily apparent from junction with the central member.

the foregoing description of its construction, This specification signed and witnessed 5 without further explanation. this 4th day of March, A. D., 1911.

I claim as my invention: DENNIS G O,SHEA

A baseball mask having a frame composed of a main or side frame, a central frame Signed in the presence of member, transverse members, and diagonal C. S. LINCOLN, 10 members secured at one end of each to a M. B. REACH.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents, Washington, D. U. 

